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Governor nixes $500k airport feasibility study (June 9, 2021)
The Star (Gulf County News)
TaxWatch, Florida’s influential, independent nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog, had opposed the project because it was among 65 Local Transportation Projects put in by legislators outside of the Florida Department of Transportation Work Program.
Rapid growth: See some of the biggest businesses, developments expanding on Treasure Coast (June 8, 2021)
TCPalm
St. Lucie County property owners demand lower tax rate: A Florida TaxWatch report released in 2019 found the county's average total property-tax rate was 22.9 mills — the highest in Florida — and is the catalyst behind taxpayers' growing frustrations.
The Marbut Report: A look at the 2021 Florida legislative session (June 7, 2021)
Jacksonville Daily Record
Hand said Florida Taxwatch prepares a list of potential vetoes each year. Visit floridataxwatch.org/Research/Budget-Turkeys.
The danger of Florida's Marsy's Law Meant to help victims, amendment aids in authorities' ridiculous secret-keeping (June 4, 2021)
Orlando Sentinel
The amendment was also ridiculously bundled with an unrelated issue about the retirement age of judges. So we had thumbs-down recommendations from the Young Republicans of Tampa Bay and Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida. From the lefties at the ACLU to the righties at Florida TaxWatch.
DeSantis Vetoes State Funding for Pulse Survivors and Homeless Youth Shelter (June 4, 2021)
South Florida Gay News
The funding for the Zebra Coalition’s project was also included in a transparency report by Florida TaxWatch, called the “Budget Turkey Watch Report.” According to their website, the report “identifies appropriations that circumvent transparency and accountability standards in public budgeting.” Their $750,000 of funding lies in the category of bills which “would not have received funding without being added at the very last minute.”
Mark Lane: Governor signs big budget at the home of the big meatball (June 4, 2021)
The Daytona Beach News-Journal
Two New Smyrna Beach historical site projects that had made TaxWatch's turkey list escaped vetoes. And the lifeline the state extended to Bethune-Cookman University did not snap under pandemic pressures; the budget includes $17 million in operating funds for the historically Black university.
Gov. DeSantis nixes Southwest Florida projects, but will environmental trust bring some back?
From Dona Bay to Bonita Springs, budget slashes impacted the region. (June 3, 2021)
Florida Politics
And Hardee County took multiple hits not long after coming in the crosshairs of Florida TaxWatch’s turkey list. DeSantis vetoed $150,000 set aside for the Cracker Museum & Pioneer Village expansion in Zolfo Springs. Another $16,000 for a Hardee County Citrus Facility also didn’t survive the signing ceremony.
DeSantis puts veto power to work during state budget bill signing (June 3, 2021)
WWSB ABC 7
However, there is some criticism from people across of the community because of the move. The vice president of the Florida Taxwatch Group is one of those vocal critics.
Also published in:
WTVY
DeSantis signs $100B Florida budget flush with federal pandemic cash (June 2, 2021)
Politico
The largest project vetoed was $1.1 million to improve the efficiency of a reverse osmosis water treatment plant in Indian River County. Florida TaxWatch had urged the governor to take a close look at the $116.6 million in water projects for possible vetoes.
Gov. DeSantis vetoes $3M for stormwater runoff improvements in Palm Beach County(June 2, 2021)
Florida Politics
The item was among a list from Florida TaxWatch, which suggested proposed vetoes for the Governor. DeSantis agreed with the organization and axed almost all of the $5 million worth of recommended vetoes in Palm Beach County.
Budget lands on DeSantis' desk (June 2, 2021)
News Service of Florida
The Tallahassee-based group Florida TaxWatch recommended DeSantis consider nixing 116 proposals, worth an estimated $157.5 million, from the spending plan.
Also published in:
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Orlando Weekly
CBS 4 Miami
WWSB ABC 7 Sarasota
State budget of $101.5 billion ready for DeSantis’ signature (June 2, 2021)
WWSB
The Tallahassee-based group Florida TaxWatch recommended DeSantis consider nixing 116 proposals, worth an estimated $157.5 million, from the spending plan.
Several large South Florida projects were casualties Wednesday as the Governor signed a $101.5 billion budget. (June 2, 2021)
Florida Politics
The item was among a list from Florida TaxWatch, which suggested proposed vetoes for the Governor. DeSantis agreed with the organization and axed almost all of the $5 million worth of recommended vetoes in Palm Beach County. But DeSantis went even further, cutting another few line items to total $6 million in cuts for the county.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis receives budget with money for Everglades restoration, sea level rise mitigation (June 2, 2021)
Orlando Weekly
The Tallahassee-based group Florida TaxWatch recommended DeSantis consider nixing 116 proposals, worth an estimated $157.5 million, from the spending plan.
DeSantis signs $100B Florida budget flush with federal pandemic cash (June 2, 2021)
Politico
Florida TaxWatch had urged the governor to take a close look at the $116.6 million in water projects for possible vetoes.
Gov. DeSantis nixes Southwest Florida projects, but will environmental trust bring some back? (June 2, 2021)
Florida Politics
And Hardee County took multiple hits not long after coming in the crosshairs of Florida TaxWatch’s turkey list.
To veto or not to veto: Five tough decisions facing Gov. DeSantis (June 1, 2021)
Florida Politics
Lawmakers passed a record $101.5 billion budget, and, just like every year, Florida TaxWatch has found some questionable inclusions.
Florida TaxWatch Notes How Directed Payment Program (DPP) Can Address Medicaid Funding Gap (June 1, 2021)
Florida Daily
Last week, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released “Addressing the Medicaid Funding Gap Through a Directed Payment Program (DPP),” a report which evaluates the impact of COVID-19 on Florida’s Medicaid program and explores the use of Medicaid DPP as an option to minimize the gap between a hospital’s cost of care for Medicaid patients and the reimbursement the hospital actually receives.
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